Pacific Grove Michael Wayne Stansbury, a beloved father, veteran, and mentor, passed away on October 26, 2024, after a courageous two-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on September 25, 1944, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where his father played a critical role in the Manhattan Project, serving as the town’s judge while the atomic bomb was being developed. Michael grew up with his younger brother Tommy, who was not only his sibling but also his closest friend.
After high school, Michael initially attended the University of Houston, though his interests in girls, cars, and pool sidetracked him. Seeking a path and purpose, he joined the Navy, where his exceptional IQ earned him a place in the prestigious Nuclear Power School and admission to Mensa. Shortly after his training, Michael was deployed to Vietnam aboard the USS Enterprise. Both he and his brother served in the war, but only Michael would return. Tommy, a decorated helicopter pilot who bravely flew rescue missions, was shot down and killed in action—a loss that left a profound mark on Michael.
Following his war experience, Michael’s anti-war convictions led him to Berkeley, California, where he became involved in the peace movement and met his future wife, Dina Stansbury. They shared a passion for chess, motorcycles, fell in love, and embarked on a new venture together, opening a clock business called The Clockadial.
Seeking a place to raise a family, they moved to Pacific Grove and opened a new store, The Timepeace, in Carmel. They had two children, Todd and Lee, who became the center of Michael’s world.
Over time, the clock store and his marriage came to an end, and Michael found a new path running Bow Tie Billiards, eventually buying and rebranding it as Easy Street Billiards. Known as a great teacher, Michael shared his knowledge and passions generously. A highly skilled chess player with a rating of 2100, he started a chess club at Robert Down Elementary School, mentoring young players and taking them to tournaments across the state. An avid pool player with a USPPA rating of 110, he offered lessons to anyone interested at Easy Street and played in national tournaments.
Above all, Michael was a devoted father who never missed his children’s games, coached their teams, and spent endless hours playing catch and shooting hoops in their backyard. To his children, he was not just a father but a hero.
Michael’s passions extended beyond games and sports.
With a mathematical and mechanical mind, he was also a gifted artist, reaching semi-professional levels in photography, selling his work, and showcasing it in galleries.
He was an enthusiast of calligraphy, a collector of Venus flytraps, and a lifelong clock repairer. His intellect and curiosity were matched only by his wit and humor, often tinged with a bit of irreverence. Though sometimes stubborn and impatient, he was at heart a dreamer, a seeker of beauty, and a man of immense integrity.
Michael’s legacy lives on through his children, Todd and Lee, and his four grandchildren, Cooper, Summer, Claire, and Sloane. He will be profoundly missed by his friends, colleagues, former students, and his loving longtime companion, Karen Brown.
Acelebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Easy Street Billiards. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association in his honor.